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October 6 - 20, 2018
P A T R O N S A L U T E | L Y R I C O P E R A O F C H I C A G O
On August 21, 1955,
Anne Mitchell, Sarah
Wood Armour, Louise
Smith, and Mary Ward
Wolkonsky came together
for the first Lyric Opera of
Chicago Women’s Board
meeting, in an effort to
further the growth of the
company as a cultural and
educational institution in
concert with the Board
of Directors and other
volunteer groups. Today,
the Women's Board
consists of 56 regular
members, 5 non-resident
members, 7 life members,
and during the 2016/17
season inducted Renée
Fleming as an honorary
member.
The Women’s Board
organizes myriad projects,
both large and small in scale, which secure critical
funding for Lyric. Now a 400-person, black-tie
fête at the Hilton raising on average a million
dollars, the Opening Night Opera Ball came
from humble beginnings. Less than two months
after that very first Board meeting in 1955, the
inaugural Ball was held. In its first year, the event
raised a total of $17,000 and the cost to attend
was a mere $25 per couple. Dancing took place
in the Rice Grand Foyer, with dinner tables on
the American Airlines Mezzanine. Since then,
Opera Ball has become one of the Board’s
signature events, commencing each new season
with the level of excitement and elegance it so
deserves. This year’s co-chairs, Erica L. Sandner
and Mrs. Alejandro Silva, continue this tradition
with an evening that will mirror the French
romanticism of
La bohème
.
Equally as impressive as Opera Ball is the
triennial Wine Auction, which features live and
silent auction lots of the world’s rarest wines,
luxury trips, and dining experiences. President
Nancy Searle summarizes the auction’s staying
power: “It has grown into the vehicle through
which we are able to give to Lyric and to the
community on an unprecedented level. At the
same time, Wine Auction has encouraged us to
hold onto our roots: we continue to host this
event in our cherished Lyric Opera House, and
we continue to rely on one another for support
and encouragement, just as we did in 1988.”
The past thirteen auctions have raised over $11
million in funds for Lyric, capped this past
spring by the 30th anniversary celebration of
the first auction with honored guest Château
Margaux and honoree Shirley Welsh Ryan.
In addition to these events, the Women’s
Board maintains a strong commitment to Lyric’s
educational and sustaining efforts. They created,
developed, and continue to grow the Opera
Commentaries Project, now sponsored by the
Patrick G. and Shirley Welsh Ryan Foundation
in memory of their parents. This season’s
Commentaries can be found free of charge to
the public on Lyric’s website, providing opera
lovers with a rich history and understanding of
each opera of the season. In 2005, the Women’s
Board General Director’s Endowed Chair in
loving memory of Ardis Krainik was established
as part of Lyric’s 50th anniversary season.
The Women’s Board continues its
commitment to outreach opportunities
through collaborations that connect the
Chicago community to the programming of
Lyric Unlimited. Annually, the Board brings
Lyric Unlimited’s Opera in the Neighborhoods
performances to various venues throughout
the city, such as the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab,
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of
Chicago, and Misericordia. Spreading the joy of
opera throughout the city is a privilege that the
Women’s Board holds dear.
The Women’s Board
is also responsible for
overseeing The William B.
and Catherine Graham
Room. Originally known
as the Green Room, this
premiere dining space
was renamed in 1993
in honor of the late Bill
and Catherine Graham.
Catherine, a Women’s
Board member for 31
years, was known as Lyric’s
“grande dame,” and her
involvement as Graham
Room Committee chair
was a role that she deeply
cherished. Today, the
Women’s Board honors
the legacy of Mrs. Graham
by preserving the highest
quality of dining service,
organizing tastings and
selecting the final menus
seasonally for this ultimate donor benefit.
Collaboration is key to the Women’s
Board. The Board of Directors united with the
Women’s Board during the 2016/17 season for
the Chicago Voices Gala Benefit Concert and
After Party to celebrate our city’s rich musical
culture. For several years, the Women’s Board
has joined forces with the Guild Board of
Directors on the Spring Musical Celebration,
which has built a strong community surrounding
the wildly successful musical-theater initiative.
The Women’s Board is eagerly anticipating
the Renée Fleming 25th Anniversary Concert
and Gala on March 23, 2019, with Mrs. Lester
Crown as Gala chair. Never a dull moment!
Through the Board’s tireless work ethic,
generosity, and commitment, Lyric’s mission
to support the performance of world-class
opera and the creation of innovative programs
for community engagement and education
has been strengthened. The Women’s Board
has celebrated the past while simultaneously
planning ahead for nearly 65 years, and has no
plans to slow down.
—
Leah Bobbey
The Women’s Board of Lyric:
Rooted in History, Poised for the Future
2017 Opera Ball hostesses (left to right) Susan Lenny, Nancy Searle,
Mamie Case, Ellen Stirling, Lili Gaubin, and Nancy Santi.
JACLYN SIMPSON